The pairings are out for this week's US Open at venerable Winged Foot GC in Mamaroneck, New York. TEE TIMES SCORING
The USGA has a strong hand in making the pairings, with a load of requests from NBC as to who plays together and when. Major champions are often paired with a leading amateur for example, of course they make up "featured groups" involving the top players led by Tiger of course who draw the biggest ratings, and are assigned tee times in prime TV viewing slots.
This year at 8.07am Tiger is paired with Justin Thomas and Collin Morikawa off #1 and Rory, Adam Scott and Justin Rose off #10.
The field is halved with a morning wave, and a late wave for Thursday which is then reversed on Friday, with the pairings staying together until the cut is made Friday night.
This year the favourite Dustin Johnson begins at 1.16pm with Bryson DeChambeau and Tony Finau off #1.
They have delighted Canadians by pairing Adam Hadwin (64th), Corey Connors (69th) and Mac Hughes (56th) together for both days beginning at 8.49am on Thursday off the 10th tee.
It is a first I can remember, although they do often pair fellow countrymen together. They are playing a practice round with Taylor Pendrith (ranked 157) the 4th Canuck today. He qualified by finishing in the top 5 on the Korn Ferry Tour and plays at 12.10pm with one of the fastest players, Italian Renato Paratore and American Richie Werenski.
Remember Mike Weir is still the only male Canadian to win a major, the 2003 Masters.
Winged Foot GC will be a very stern test, typical US Open with narrow fairways, thick lush rough and small well protected fast greens. Anything around par will be in contention come Sunday afternoon.
Past US Open champions : 2006 Geoff Ogilvy 285 +5, 1984 Fuzzy Zoeller -4 276, 1974 Hale Irwin 287 +7, 1959 Billy Casper 282 +2, 1929 Bobby Jones 294 +6
Bryan Angus
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